New Zealand vs South Africa: Kane Williamson's slams second ton in first Test as hosts extend lead past 500

Kane Williamson crafted his second century of the match Tuesday as New Zealand took complete command of the first Test on day three against understrength South Africa. Run machine Williamson was out for a rapid 109 as the home side reached 179-4 in their second innings at Mount Maunganui, extending their overall lead to 528 runs by stumps.

Daryl Mitchell was at the crease on 11 and Tom Blundell on five, with the Black Caps looking to declare early on Wednesday with South Africa facing a mammoth target on a deteriorating Bay Oval pitch.

The depleted Proteas were dismissed for 162 soon before tea in response to New Zealand’s first innings 511.

The follow-on wasn’t enforced, allowing the world’s top-ranked batsman Williamson to craft another big score to follow his 118 in the first innings.

It was the former skipper’s 31st Test century but the first time he has reached three figures twice in the same match. He, however, missed the record made by Sachin Tendulkar. Williamson along with Australia’s Steve Smith are the second fastest to 31 Test tons. Both got there in 170 innings.

Tendulkar is the fastest and completed 31 Test hundreds in 165 innings.

Fastest to 31 Test hundreds:

Sachin Tendulkar – 165 innings.

Steven Smith – 170 innings.

Kane Williamson – 170 innings. pic.twitter.com/Zrxx0gza8f

— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) February 6, 2024

The 34-year-old New Zealander played with aggression from the outset, striking 12 fours and a six in a 132-ball stay that signalled hosts’ intent before he was stumped off the bowling of Proteas captain Neil Brand.

Williamson has been in top form, scoring six centuries including a double hundred in his last ten innings: 132, 1, 121*, 215, 104, 11, 13, 11, 118 and 109.

New Zealand coach Stead said Williamson’s prolific form was “fantastic” for his team-mates, noting the role he played as a support act when Rachin Ravindra posted a maiden double century in the first innings.

“Kane’s been an incredible player for us and he keeps churning out the runs,” Stead said.

“He’s a tired lad in their now, he’ll be getting a bit of treatment tonight I’d imagine, but he’s just fantastic for the team.”

Stead wouldn’t say if New Zealand will declare overnight, preferring to “keep them guessing”.

He explained the decision not enforce the follow-on, deeming the fitness of his bowling attack a priority ahead of next week’s second Test, followed by two Tests against Australia.

“We just felt this is the first of four Tests in a pretty quick period of time for us and we wanted to make sure our bowlers had an element of freshness to them.”

As was the case in the first innings, Williamson survived a dropped catch in the outfield, with Edward Moore again the culprit when he was on 61.

Moore responded in the following over by catching Devon Conway for 29 off Brand’s spin bowling, ending a partnership of 92 with Williamson after opener Tom Latham fell cheaply.

The second-string nature of South Africa’s side was exposed when they lost their last six wickets for 82 runs on Tuesday.

The top score was 45 from Keegan Petersen who, in his 13th Test, is the most experienced batsman in the squad after most first-choice players remained behind to compete in a domestic Twenty20 competition.

Petersen lost his overnight partner David Bedingham for 32 when trying to hook seamer Matt Henry, before Ruan de Swardt followed for a second-ball duck in the same over.

Wicketkeeper Clyde Fortuin, one of six Proteas debutants, departed for nine just before the tourists went to lunch at 129-7.

Henry took 3-31 and Mitchell Santner capitalised on spin-friendly conditions to finish with 3-34.

With AFP inputs